Blue Heeler Food & Training Information

The blue heeler, also known as the Australian heeler or Australian cattle dog, combines sharp intelligence with the stamina of a typical working dog. This breed requires proper training and adequate nutrition to live up to its potential.

  1. Disposition

    • Blue heelers may show caution or or distrust toward strangers. This characteristic makes them responsive to training as watchdogs or guard dogs, according to TrainPetDog.com.

    Herding Instinct

    • The blue heeler instinctively herds other animals or even people, sometimes nipping at them in the process. A trainer must work with the dog to control this behavior.

    Intelligence

    • The blue heeler's intelligence can make it prone to boredom. Trainers must make their lessons entertaining and interesting to get the right response from this breed.

    Food Intake

    • Working dogs--such as blue heelers--require more food than sedentary breeds, but "The Dog Owner's Guide" warns that over-feeding a blue heeler may cause a cartilage disorder called oesteochondritis dissicans.

    Diet

    • Vetinfo4dogs.com recommends all-natural dog foods optimized for 40 percent protein, 50 percent vegetable matter and 10 percent carbohydrates. TrainPetDog.com notes that chocolate, sugar, garlic, tofu or onions may cause health problems in dogs.